Mounting hook for standards

ABSTRACT

A hook and method for supporting at least one of a storage and organization device from a standard using a hook are provided. The hook includes at least one engagement member configured to extend through an opening of a mounting component and configured to be removably engaged with the mounting component. The hook further includes at least one support member configured to support in a hanging configuration at least one of a storage and organization device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to storage and organization systems,and more particularly, to a hook for standards that supports differentstorage and organization devices.

Storage and organization systems are used in a variety of applicationsfor storing and organizing items, which may include storing items on,under and within different devices that are supported or mounted onvarious support structures. For example, storage and organizationsystems may be designed for home or retail applications. For homeapplications, these systems may be configured for installation within acloset for storing clothing or within a garage for storing outdoorequipment. For retail applications, these systems may be configured todisplay and organize products for sale. Accordingly, these systems mayneed to accommodate for storage and organization different sizes, shapesand types of items.

These storage and organization systems typically include mountinghardware for installing the system. For example, these systems mayinclude wall supports, often referred to as wall-mounted standards thatare mounted to a wall or other support structure and that includeopenings for receiving therein a portion of a bracket, hook or othersupport member. These known support members are configured for use inconnection with a particular type of storage or organization unit thatis designed for a specific application. In other known systems, thestorage or organization unit may be mounted directly to the wall-mountedstandard. Accordingly, these known systems lack flexibility in designand use. Further, when changing the configuration of the installedsystem, entire units must be moved and/or new units installed. This addstime and cost to the system including time and cost to the assembly andcomponents needed for assembly.

Thus, known storage and organization systems lack flexibility in use andoften are designed for use in a particular application or for use with aparticular storage or organization unit. Additionally, these systems maybe more expensive and time consuming to install and maintain.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In an exemplary embodiment, a hook for supporting storage andorganization devices is provided that includes at least one engagementmember configured to extend through an opening of a mounting componentand configured to be removably engaged with the mounting component. Thehook further includes at least one support member configured to supportin a hanging configuration at least one of a storage and organizationdevice.

In another exemplary embodiment, a hanging hook for standards isprovided that includes at least one engagement member configured toextend through a slot of a standard and to be removably engaged with thestandard. The at least one engagement member engages the standard whenrotated from a position perpendicular to the standard to a positionparallel to the standard. The hanging hook further includes at least onesupport member configured to support in a hanging configuration at leastone of a storage and organization device.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, a method for supporting at leastone of a storage and organization device from a standard is provided.The method includes configuring a hook to extend through a slot of thestandard and to be removably engaged with the standard. The at least oneengagement member engages the standard when rotated from a positionperpendicular to the standard to a position parallel to the standard.The method further includes configuring at least one support member ofthe hook to support in a hanging configuration at least one of a storageand organization device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hook constructed in accordance with anexemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the hook of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the hook of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the hook of FIG. 1 engaged with awall-mounted standard and supporting a basket.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of two hooks of FIG. 1 engaged with awall-mounted standard and supporting a basket.

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of a hook constructed in accordancewith another exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a back perspective view of the hook of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is another back perspective view of the hook of FIG. 6.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are perspective views of the hook of FIGS. 6 through 8engaged with a wall-mounted standard.

FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of a hook constructed in accordancewith another exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 11 is a back perspective view of the hook of FIG. 10.

FIGS. 12A and 12B are perspective views of the hook of FIGS. 10 and 11engaged with a wall-mounted standard.

FIG. 13 is a front perspective view of a hook constructed in accordancewith another exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 14A and 14B are perspective views of the hook of FIG. 13 engagedwith a wall-mounted standard.

FIG. 15 is a back perspective view of a hook constructed in accordancewith another exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 16 is a side perspective view of the hook of FIG. 15.

FIGS. 17A and 17B are perspective views of the hook of FIGS. 15 and 16engaged with a wall-mounted standard.

FIG. 18 is a front perspective view of a hook constructed in accordancewith another exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 19 is a back perspective view of the hook of FIG. 18.

FIG. 20 is a side elevation view of the hook of FIG. 18.

FIGS. 21A and 21B are perspective views of the hook of FIGS. 18 through20 engaged with a wall-mounted standard.

FIG. 22 is a back elevation view of a basket constructed in accordancewith an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 23 is an elevation view of an engagement portion of the basket ofFIG. 22.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Various embodiments of the invention provide a support member, and moreparticularly, a hook for supporting and maintaining different storageand organization devices to a mounting component, such as a wall-mountedstandard. It should be noted that although the various embodiments maybe described in connection with supporting a particular storage ororganization device or unit, such as hanging different baskets fromwall-mounted standards, other configurations and uses are contemplated.For example, when reference is made herein to a storage or organizationdevice, this refers generally to any device for storing and/ororganizing items or products and/or any components related thereto,including, but not limited to, baskets, storage bins, tool rails,shelves, product displays, message boards, clothing organizers,electronics organizers (for home or office), different hooks andbrackets, etc.

In general, various embodiments of the invention include a supportmember for mounting to different mounting components and for supportingthereon different storage and organization devices or units. The variousembodiments generally include different configurations of hooks formounting to, for example, wall-mounted standards. In one exemplaryembodiment as shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, a hook 20 generally includesan upper portion 22 for engagement with a mounting component (e.g., awall-mounted standard) and a lower portion for supporting a storageand/or organization device or unit (not shown), such as, for hanging abasket therefrom.

Specifically, the hook 20 includes at the upper portion 22 a firstengagement member 26 and a second engagement member 28 each configuredas tabs extending from a rear portion 30 of the hook 20. The firstengagement member 26 and the second engagement member 28 are spacedapart a distance, for example, based on the dimensions of thewall-mounted standard to which the hook 20 is to be attached. The firstengagement member 26 and the second engagement member 28 are eachconfigured at one end (e.g., a top end) to provide a generally L-shapedportion 32 and at the other end (e.g., a bottom end) to define a notch34.

The lower portion 24 of the hook 20 includes a pair of support members35 configured as generally U-shaped members and which may include anoutwardly curved portion 36 at one end. The pair of support members 35are separated by a distance to form a gap 38 therebetween, the size ofwhich may be based on the configuration of the storage and/ororganization device or unit to be supported by the hook 20. It should benoted that the length of the pair of support members 35 may be modifiedas desired or needed, for example, based on the configuration of thestorage and/or organization device or unit to be supported by the hook20. Further, additional support members 35 may be provided.

In operation, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the hook 20 is configured tosupport, for example, a wire basket 50 from a wall-mounted standard 52.In particular, the first engagement member 26 and the second engagementmember 28 are configured to be interested within a first slot 54 and asecond slot 56 of the wall-mounted standard 52, with the first andsecond slots 54 and 56 generally defining openings in the wall-mountedstandard 52 as is known. Specifically, the upper portion 28 of the hook20 is first inserted into the wall-mounted standard 52 and then rotateddownwardly toward the wall-mounted standard such that the notches 34extend into the first and second slots 54 and 56. Thereafter, the hook20 slides downward until the notches 34 engage over lower portions 58 ofthe first and second slots 54 and 56. In this engaged position, thegenerally L-shaped portions 32 abut against an inner surface (not shown)of the wall-mounted standard 52. The generally L- shaped portions 32generally prevent the hook 20 from disengaging and passing back throughthe first and second slots 54 and 56 and the notches 34 generallyprevent the hook 20 from rotating and sliding down the wall-mountedstandard 52. In the engaged position, a substantially flat face 59 ofthe hook 20 abuts against an outside surface of the wall-mountedstandard 52 between the first and second slots 54 and 56.

It should be noted that the support members 35, and more particularly,the ends of the support members 35 may be configured to allow bending orcrimping around one or more wires 60 of the wire basket 50 to resist orprevent the wire basket 50 from disengaging with the hook 20.Additionally, more than one hook 20 may be used in connection with eachwall-mounted standard 52 to support a wire basket 50, for example, basedon the size of the wire basket 50 and/or the weight of the items to besupported in the wire basket 50 by the hooks 20. Accordingly, and forillustrative purposes only, the wire basket 50 shown in FIG. 4 is shownsupported by a single hook 20 on the wall-mounted standard 52 and thewire basket 50 shown in FIG. 5 is shown supported by two hooks 20 on thewall-mounted standard 52. Also, it should be noted that the gap 38 isconfigured to receive therebetween a wire 51 of the wire basket 50.

Additionally, although the various embodiments described herein may bedescribed for use in connection with a particular mounting component,such as a wall-mounted standard, other mounting components may be used.For example, the standard may not be wall-mounted, for example, and hangfrom a support structure. Further, the mounting component may be shapeddifferent, such as for example, similar to a peg board or otherstructure having rounded holes instead of slots and positioned in a gridtype pattern.

Other embodiments of hooks also may be provided. It should be noted thatuse of the same reference numerals in the various embodiments designateslike parts. Specifically, shown in FIGS. 6 through 8 is a hook 70constructed in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. Thehook 70 includes a similar lower portion 22, but has a modified upperportion 22. In particular, the upper portion includes lips definingengagement members, which may be configured as a first clip 72 and asecond clip 74, which in this embodiment, extend generally horizontallyfrom a back surface 76 of the hook 70 in opposite directions. Inparticular, each of the first and second clips 72 and 74 initiallyextend generally outwardly from the back surface 76 and then curve toextend horizontally and parallel to the back surface 76. The first andsecond clips 72 and 74 may be sized, for example, based on theparticular application and configuration of wall-mounted standard towhich the hook 70 is to be mounted. Further, the first and second clips72 and 74 may be constructed to be bendable and/or resilient.

In operation, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the hook 70 is initiallyinserted into the first and second slots 54 and 56 of the wall-mountedstandard 52 in a generally horizontal orientation (e.g., thelongitudinal axis of the hook 70 perpendicular to the longitudinal axisof the wall-mounted standard 52) such that the first and second clips 72and 74 are oriented generally vertically or parallel to the longitudinalaxis of the wall-mounted standard 52. Essentially, the first and secondclips 72 and 74 extend through the first and second slots 54 and 56.Thereafter, the hook 70 is rotated, in this example, in a clockwisedirection until the hook 70 is oriented generally vertical or parallelto the longitudinal axis of the wall-mounted standard 52. In thisengaged position, the first and second clips 72 and 74 are orientedgenerally horizontally and engage a back surface (not shown) of a middleportion 80 of the wall-mounted standard 52 between the first and secondslots 54 and 56. In the engaged position, the hook 70 is essentiallylocked into place against the wall-mounted standard 70 with the firstand second clips 72 and 74 maintaining the position of the hook 70 andresisting or preventing the hook 70 from passing back through the firstand second slots 54 and 56. Additionally, in the engaged position, thesecond clip 74 may abut against the lower portion 58 of at least one ofthe first and second slots 54 and 56 for further supporting andmaintaining a storage and/or organization device connected to (e.g.,hanging from) the hook 70.

Another hook 90 constructed in accordance with another embodiment of theinvention is shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. The hook 90 is the same as thehook 70 with the addition of first and second protrusions 92 and 94extending generally vertically or longitudinally along the hook 90 belowthe first and second clips 72 and 74. The first and second protrusions92 and 94 are formed from indentations on the hook 90. Essentially, thefirst and second protrusions 92 and 94 protrude from back portions 96 ofeach of the pair of support members 35 as shown in FIG. 11.

In operation, as shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, the hook 90 is initiallyinserted into the first and second slots 54 and 56 of the wall-mountedstandard 52 in a generally horizontal orientation such that the firstand second clips 72 and 74 are oriented generally vertically or parallelto the longitudinal axis of the wall-mounted standard 52. Essentially,the first and second clips 72 and 74 extend through the first and secondslots 54 and 56. Thereafter, the hook 90 is rotated, in this example, ina clockwise direction until the hook 90 is oriented generally verticalor parallel to the longitudinal axis of the wall-mounted standard 52. Itshould be noted that the wall-mounted standard 52 may includes a groove96 extending generally longitudinally along each of the rows of firstand second slots 54 and 56.

In the engaged position, the first and second clips 72 and 74 areoriented generally horizontally and engage a back surface (not shown) ofthe middle portion 80 of the wall-mounted standard 52 between the firstand second slots 54 and 56. In this engaged position, the hook 70 isessentially locked into place against the wall-mounted standard 70 withthe first and second clips 72 and 74 maintaining the position of thehook 70 and resisting or preventing the hook 70 from passing backthrough the first and second slots 54 and 56. Additionally, in theengaged position, the first and second protrusions 92 and 94 engagewithin the groove 96 along each of the rows of the first and secondslots 54 and 56 to maintain the position of the hook 90 relative to thewall-mounted standard 52. Further, the second clip 74 again may abutagainst at least one of the lower portions 58 of the first and secondslots 54 and 56 for further supporting and maintaining a storage and/ororganization device connected to (e.g., hanging from) the hook 70.

The various embodiments may be implemented for use in connection withmounting components, and in particular, wall-mounted standards havingdifferent configurations. For example, as shown in FIG. 13, a hook 100constructed in accordance with another embodiment of the invention, isconfigured to engage a wall-mounted standard with only one row of slots.In particular, the lower portion 24 is the same as the hooks 20 and 70,but the upper portion 22 is modified such that a locking member 102extends from an upper edge 104 of the hook 100. Specifically, thelocking member 102 generally includes a tab 106 extendingperpendicularly from the upper edge 104 and having a generally T-shapedconfiguration. An arm portion 108 of the locking member 102 providesthat the tab 106 is generally offset from the upper edge 104. A frontedge 109 of the tab 106 is configured to engage a wall-mounted standardas described below.

In operation, as shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B, the hook 100 is initiallyinserted in a generally horizontal orientation into a slot 110 of asingle slot row wall-mounted standard 112 such that the locking member102 extends into the slot 110. More particularly, the tab 106 extendsinto the slot 110. Thereafter, the hook 100 is rotated, in this example,in a clockwise direction until the hook 100 is oriented generallyvertical or parallel to the longitudinal axis of the wall-mountedstandard 112. In this engaged position, the front edge 109 of the tab106 engages an inner surface of the wall-mounted standard 112.Specifically, in the engaged position, the tab 106 is oriented generallyhorizontally or transverse to the opening of the slot 110, therebyengaging and locking the hook 100 to the wall-mounted standard 112. Inthis engaged position, the tab 106 resists or prevents the hook 100 frompassing back through the slot 110. A flat face 116 engages and abutsagainst a front surface 118 of the wall-mounted standard 112 to supportthe engagement when a storage and/or organization device is connected to(e.g., hanging from) the hook 100.

A hook 120, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, is constructed in accordancewith another embodiment of the invention and is similar to the hook 100with the addition of a clip 122 extending from a back surface 124 of thehook 120 between the support members 35. In particular, the clip 122initially extends outwardly from the back surface 124 and the curvesdownwardly to extend vertically or longitudinally and parallel to theback surface 124.

In operation, as shown in FIGS. 17A and 17B, the hook 120 is initiallyinserted into the slot 110 of the wall-mounted standard 112 in agenerally horizontal orientation. More particularly, the tab 106 extendsinto the slot 110. Thereafter, the hook 100 is rotated, in this example,in a clockwise direction until the hook 120 is oriented generallyvertical or parallel to the longitudinal axis of the wall-mountedstandard 112. In this position, the front edge 109 of the tab 106engages an inner surface of the wall-mounted standard 112.

Specifically, in this position, the tab 106 is oriented generallyhorizontally or transverse to the opening of the slot 110, therebyengaging and locking the hook 120 to the wall-mounted standard 112. Inthis position the tab 106 resists or prevents the hook 120 from passingback through the slot 110. The flat face 116 engages and abuts againstthe front surface 118 of the wall-mounted standard 112 to support theengagement when a storage and/or organization device is connected to(e.g., hanging from) the hook 120. In this position, the clip 122extends into a slot 110 adjacent the slot 110 through which the tab 106is extended. The slots 110 may be immediately adjacent or separated byone or more slots 110. Thereafter, the hook 120 is moved or sliddownwardly or longitudinally such that the clip 122 engages over a lowerportion 126 of the slot 110 to resist or prevent rotation and/or liftingof the hook 120.

A hook 130, as shown in FIGS. 18 through 20, constructed in accordancewith another embodiment of the invention is also configured for use inconnection with a single slot row wall-mounted standard 112. The hook130 includes a protrusion 132 extending generally vertically orlongitudinally along the hook 130 above and between the support members35. The protrusion 132 is formed from an indentation on a substantiallyflat face 59 of the hook 130. The protrusion 132 has a generally roundedupper portion and a generally straight lower portion defining an edge133 (shown in FIG. 19). The hook 130 also includes a pair of fingers 134extending from each side of an upper edge 136 of the hook 130. Betweenthe fingers 134 and extending perpendicularly from the upper edge 136 isa locking member 138. The locking member 138 includes a tab 140connected to the upper edge 136 with an arm 142, which provides the tab140 offset from the upper edge 136. The tab 140 includes a pair ofextensions 144, configured as fingers or posts, in this embodiment,square posts, extending or projecting downwardly from a lower surface146 of the tab 140. The pair of extensions 144 are formed on corners ofthe tab 140 closest to a back surface 150 of the hook 130.

It should be noted, and as shown in FIG. 20, the distance D between atop of the tab 140 and a bottom of the protrusion 132 is configured tofit within one slot of a wall-mounted standard as shown in FIGS. 21A and21B. In particular, in operation, the hook 130 is initially insertedinto the slot 110 of the wall-mounted standard 112 in a generallyhorizontal orientation. More particularly, the tab 140 extends into theslot 110. Thereafter, the hook 130 is rotated, in this example, in aclockwise direction until the hook 130 is oriented generally vertical orparallel to the longitudinal axis of the wall-mounted standard 112. Inthis position, the pair of extensions 144 engage an inner surface of thewall-mounted standard 112 and the pair of fingers 134 engage and abutagainst the front surface 118 of the wall-mounted standard 112. The pairof extensions 144 and the pair of fingers 134 resist or prevent the hook130 from swinging away from the wall-mounted standard 112. Additionally,in this engaged position, the protrusion 132 also extends into the slot110 (e.g., snaps into the slot 110). The protrusion 132 resists orprevents rotation of the hook 130 and the edge 133 of the protrusion 132resists or prevents downward or sliding movement of the hook 130.

It should be noted that the configurations of the various embodiments ofthe invention may be modified as desired or needed. For example, thenumber, shape, size, positioning and orientation of the variouscomponents and members may be modified. For example, the size and shapeof the protrusions may be changed and positioned in different locations.Additionally, although the various embodiments may be used in connectionwith any type of storage and/or organization device or unit, the storageor organization device also may be modified for connection to one of thevarious embodiments of the hooks. For example, a basket 160 as shown inFIG. 22, which is a wire basket, may include engagement portions 162provided on an upper back edge 164 of the basket 160. As shown moreclearly in FIG. 23, the engagement portion 162 may be configured in agenerally loop-shaped configuration for receiving therethrough thesupport member 35 of the various embodiments of hooks.

Thus, various embodiments of the invention provide a hook for engagementto a mounting component, and more particularly a standard, forsupporting one or more different storage and/or organization devices orunits.

While the invention has been described in terms of various specificembodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the inventioncan be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of theclaims.

1. A hook for supporting storage and organization devices, the hookcomprising: at least one engagement member configured to extend throughan opening of a mounting component and configured to be removablyengaged with the mounting component; and at least one support memberconfigured to support in a hanging configuration at least one of astorage and organization device.
 2. A hook in accordance with claim 1wherein the mounting component comprises a wall-mounted standard havingat least one row of slots.
 3. A hook in accordance with claim 1 whereinthe support member comprises a generally U-shaped portion for supportinga portion of the at least one storage and organization device.
 4. A hookin accordance with claim 1 wherein the engagement member comprises atleast one notch for engaging a portion of an edge of the opening.
 5. Ahook in accordance with claim 1 wherein the least one storage andorganization device comprises at least one wire basket and furthercomprising two support members separated by a gap with the gapconfigured to receive therebetween at least one wire of the wire basket.6. A hook in accordance with claim 1 wherein the at least one engagementmember comprises at least one clip configured to engage the mountingcomponent.
 7. A hook in accordance with claim 6 wherein the at least oneclip is configured to engage the mounting component when the hook isrotated from a generally horizontal orientation to a generally verticalorientation.
 8. A hook in accordance with claim 6 further comprising aback surface and two clips and wherein the two clips extend in oppositedirections from the back surface.
 9. A hook in accordance with claim 6further comprising at least one protrusion on a back portion of the atleast one support member.
 10. A hook in accordance with claim 9 whereinthe mounting component is a wall-mounted standard having at least onerow of slots with a groove extending longitudinally along the row ofslots, and wherein the at least one protrusion is configured to engagethe groove.
 11. A hook in accordance with claim 10 wherein the at leastone protrusion engages the groove when the hook is rotated from agenerally horizontal orientation to a generally vertical orientation.12. A hook in accordance with claim 1 further comprising an upper edgeand a locking member extending from the upper edge.
 13. A hook inaccordance with claim 12 wherein the locking member comprises aperpendicularly extending tab and wherein the locking member engageswithin the slot when the hook is rotated from a generally horizontalorientation to a generally vertical orientation.
 14. A hook inaccordance with claim 12 further comprising at least one longitudinallyextending clip configured to engage an edge of the opening.
 15. A hookin accordance with claim 12 wherein the locking member comprises aperpendicularly extending tab having downwardly projecting posts.
 16. Ahook in accordance with claim 15 further comprising a pair of fingersextending longitudinally from the upper edge with the locking memberpositioned between the pair of fingers.
 17. A hook in accordance withclaim 16 further comprising at least one protrusion and wherein thelocking member and the at least one protrusion are configured to engagewithin a single opening of the mounting component.
 18. A hanging hookfor standards, the hanging hook comprising: at least one engagementmember configured to extend through a slot of a standard and to beremovably engaged with the standard, the at least one engagement memberengaging the standard when rotated from a position perpendicular to thestandard to a position parallel to the standard; and at least onesupport member configured to support in a hanging configuration at leastone of a storage and organization device.
 19. A hanging hook inaccordance with claim 18 further comprising at least one clip configuredto engage within the slot of the standard.
 20. A hanging hook inaccordance with claim 18 further comprising at least one protrusionconfigured to engage at least one of (i) the slot of the standard and(ii) a groove extending longitudinally along the standard.
 21. A hanginghook in accordance with claim 18 wherein the at least one engagementmember comprises a tab configured to extend within the slot and engagethe standard.
 22. A method for supporting at least one of a storage andorganization device from a standard, the method comprising: configuringa hook to extend through a slot of the standard and to be removablyengaged with the standard, the at least one engagement member engagingthe standard when rotated from a position perpendicular to the standardto a position parallel to the standard; and configuring at least onesupport member of the hook to support in a hanging configuration atleast one of a storage and organization device.